Pulled over on the way to gym!!
Howdy All:
In the area where I live in Orange County, CA, there are several stop signs motorists frequently "slide" through thus a hang in the immediate area for my local PD to hand out many tickets. At least two/three times a month I see motorists pulled over near these stop signs, usually on weekends since week days I leave very early for work and/or the gym.
Saturdays/Sundays my gym opens at 6 am (week days 5 am) thus I'm out the door near 5:30 am this past Saturday. After stopping for the red light while exiting my subdivision, I notice a vehicle approaching from my left and ease onto the main street while making my right hand turn. A local PD passes me on my left. I'm dressed for the gym ie t-shirt, nylon shorts and appropriate footwear. As I cross over the overpass bridge I notice the local PD is in the right hand lane and has slowed down considerably. I make a complete stop at usual (remember this area is heavily patroled for good cause ie sliding thru stop signs). As I continue I don't get more than 30" when in my rear view mirror I notice the local PD has turned on his lights. It's dark and as I pull over I turn my interior lights on plus press the drivers window switch to lower it.
He exits the car and with my hands on the steering wheel, he asks for my license, registration (no insurance card request). My wallet is beneath my towel on the passengers seat (remember I'm wearing gym shorts) but prior to retrieving my wallet, I inform (rquired by OCSD) the officer I have a CA valid CCW permit and one of my listed weapons (notice- no mention of GUN) is holstered in my waist-band at the 12:30 position. Noticing my attire he says you're kidding! I say no I'm not! He then requests I retrieve (I asked permission to remove my right hand from the steering wheel) my wallet and using both hands with his permission hand him my CA CDL, registration, insurance card, CCW permit and for good measure, my NRA Pistol Instructor credentials. My hands are back on the steering wheel. He looks over the documents and asks if I am really carrying and again I said yes. With his permission I lift my shirt to show him my Baby Browning Lightweight .25acp (purchased 1967) "residing" in a Bianchi IWB holster.
I'm going to be late thus I asked why he stopped me. He says I slid thru the light as I was making a right turn while exiting my subdivision. Knowing I hadn't I informed him he probably couldn't see the limit line from his viewpoint (dark) and I had already stopped prior to making my right turn. I offered to go back to my subdivision to show him but instead he goes back to his car, does his "thing", comes back and hands me my documents saying have nice day. As he is about to return to his vehicle, he asks why I have a CCW and why do I need to carry a weapon? My short but polite answers were: "Because I can and police can't everywhere"! He smiles and he's on his way.
I assume the LEO probably hadn't seen a CCW permit prior to my stop since I had to show him my Browning was one of three listed weapons on my permit plus who issued the permit, the dates for issue and expiration. He handled the stop professionally and I think was bored since it was so early in the morning. I was polite, answered his questions but indicated there could be a possibility he was wrong about my "sliding" thru the light while making my right hand turn. I was willing to go back to show him but he declined and instead walked back to his car etc.
Because my Browning is so light, it easily tucks into my gym shorts and won't "pull" them down. Thus gym weekends, my Browning is carried plus carried as a back-up to my Kahr PM 9 when ridiing my Harley. It fits easily in my jacket's change pocket sans change!! Thank goodness I haven't had the "pleasure" but one of the fellows at Evans Shooting World in Orange, CA told me years ago he had four or five .25 acp rounds fired at him from a moving car while riding his motorcycle. He didn't need to go to the hospital because the .25 acp rounds never fully penetrated his leather jacket! When he removed his jacket, they fell to the ground! Stopping power of a .25 acp is nil so why carry it? Psychological reasons for gym use but up close and personal while riding my Harley.
Oh, the gym (Ballys Tustin) opened 10 minutes late thus I was "right on time" to get my favorite tread for my 45 minute+ workout prior to using the gym equipment.
And now you know the rest of the story!!
Tough Guy Levi
SASS# 61430L
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01-09-2008, 09:31 PM
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